Curtain construction



Jan. 29, 1952 HALPERN 2,583,529

CURTAIN CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 29, 1950 I IQ W m F I INV EN TOR. A 1 AA/ HAL/ 6 F K19. A7'70K/VEX Patented Jan. 29, 1952 CURTAIN CONSTRUCTION Alan HaIpern, New York, N. Y., assignor to Bartmann & Bixer, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 29, 1950, Serial No. 203,277

8 Claims. (Cl. 160-130) This invention relates to window curtains, and particularly to multiple-tiered curtains with a plurality of overlapping sections or tiers.

The use of tier-styled curtains, particularly in modern window treatments, is widespread, and has been applied not only to conventional single windows, but also to relatively wide double and triple window structures. Two methods have been generally employed for the attachment of the overlapping tiers in this type of curtain, one being by either permanently or detachably securing the lower tier to the one directly thereabove transversely along the width thereof, and the other being by attaching auxiliary curtain rods for the lower tiers to the framework of the window by brackets.

The former type has certain known disadvan tages which limit its use, notably in that the components of a pair of lower-tiered curtains could not be moved relative to the upper tier, so that tiers at all levels will have to be opened or closed simultaneously. This has the further disadvantage not only of limiting the control of light in a room, but also of limiting the design characteristics of the tiered combination. Another disadvantage of this type is that the line of transverse attachment of upper and lower tiers, effected by a tape containing snap fasteners or by a line of stitching, results in a relatively stiff transverse portion along the attaching line,

thereby interfering with the rufiling effect and.

creating a disturbing break in the continuity of longitudinal folds.

As to the type requiring the use of brackets for supporting lower level curtain rods, it is obvious that considerable eifort must be expended in attaching the brackets to the window frame, particularly where they are made of metal. Aside from the difiiculty of installation, the window frames must necessarily be mutilated, producing damage and unsightly effects to which landlords and home owners have serious objections.

It is primarily within the contemplation of my invention to provide a multiple panel tiered curtain construction which will have none of the disadvantages aforesaid, yet which will have complete flexibility, ease of assembly, and which will not require the use of brackets and thelike for the lower curtain tiers. More specifically, it is an object of my invention to enable the upper tier to be attached to a window frame in conventional manner, and one or more lower tiers to be assembled in a manner that will enable the components of each pair of curtains, at each level, to be independently transversely moved, thereby controlling the light admitted for each level of tiers, and providing great flexibility in design arrangements. And in this aspect of my invention it is a further object to enable a plurality of tiers at different levels to be successively supported by the curtain directly thereabov'e through auxiliary curtain rods, whereby each tier may be slidably moved along its supporting curtain rod independently of the position of the other ourtains.

It is a further object of this invention to enable the tiers of curtains at difierent levels to be interchangeable, if desired, without modifying the structure of the curtains, so as to permit one set to be employed for difierent design combinations.

It is also within my contemplation, in. one form of my invention, to provide supporting means for lower tiers of curtains at different levels, so as to permit the raising or lowering of lower tiers to fit the height of the window to which the tiered curtain arrangement is being applied.

It is also an object of this invention to provide supports for curtain rods, for lower tier curtains, which will not be visible, so that the curtains may be used, if desired, as conventional single-tier curtains, and so as not to disclose the unused supports at the bottom edge of the lowermost tier.

And it is within my contemplation to provide a relatively simple, easily constructed, and inexpensive construction capable of attaining the objectives above-mentioned.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a disassembled rear view of one upper and one lower pair of curtains, and an intermediate auxiliary curtain rod, in accordance with; the preferred form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a rear view showing the components of Figure 1 in assembled relation, a portion being broken away for clarity.

Figure 3 is a front view of the curtain arrangement of Figures 1 and 2, shown in fully closed position.

. Figures 4 and 5 are front views of the same arrangement of pairs of curtains, opened to different extents.

Figure 6 is a front view of a triple-tier oonstruction according to my invention, showing different tiers in diiierent relative positions.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view of a juncture region of an upper and lower tier, substantially like the portion illustrated in Figure brackets itnot shown). ings vL8 and J9 are not illustrated, since they are as illustrated in Figure 8.

2 at th broken away section, the view showin a supporting 100p without the curtain rod therein. Figure 8 is a fragmentary section of Figure 7 along line 8-8.

auxiliary curtain rod operatively supported by a slit in the rear hem of a pair of curtains.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, the upper tier 15 comprises a pair.

of curtains IB and H. The headings l8 and I9 of the curtain panels I and 47 contain transverse conventional pockets 18a and Illa through which extends the conventional telescopic main curtain rod 2E! adapted for attachment to window The details of the headwell-known in the art and since no amplification thereof is required for the purposes of this invention. Theisaidgcurtain panels and 1? have side hems 2|, .22, .23 and 124 sewn together by a longitudinal line of stitching, such as (see Fig. 7). In the term illustrated, bottom ruffles 26 and 21 are attached to the panels I6 and ll,

the lateral edges of said ru flies being bent back to form a .hem 28 (Fig. 7) embracing the lower portion of the panel to which .it is attached by stitching 29. Supporting loops 3i), 3.], 32 and 33 are attached to the rear :of curtain panels l5 and H preferably behind the said side hems 2i,

22, 2.3,.and .24. :In the particular structure illustrated, the inner terminal portions .34 and 35 of the loop are disposed between the rear wall of hem 28 and the hem of the panel to which it is attached, such as the hem -2l of Figure 7, said line of stitching 2:9 and line or stitching 3'5 serving to anchor theloop 30 in place, with the outer or operative portion of the loop 3'! extending inwardly from the outer edge '38, and being preferably disposed in a plane adjacent to and engageable with the hem "21 of the curtain panel, It is thus apparent that the loop member 30 is completely hidden from view, vnot alone because, when not used,

it is substantially flat against the curtain panel,

but also because there are three layers of material behind which each loop is situated, to wit, the two layers pf the hem portions of the curtain panels (such .as hem 2| and front portion of panel l6) and the single layer of the ruflie (such as 26).

In operatively employing this device for a twotier arrangement, the auxiliary curtain rod 39, supportingcurtain panels 4!! and 4| of the lower tier 42, isinserted through the loops 30 3|, 32 and '33, as clearly shown in Figure 2. This is effected by separating the two parts 43 and 44 or" the curtain rod 3!) in conventional manner, and inserting said parts into the pocket or passageways :45 and 46 in the headings 47 and 48, respectively, said last-mentioned headings with their respective rod-supporting pockets being of conventional structure, like the headingconstructions l8 and is above-mentioned, the coop erative inner terminals ,of said curtain rod parts 43 and 44 being inserted, respectively, through loops 3| and ,32 and telescopically :interfi-tted.

The arrangement is hence such as to comprise pperand l wer tier t5 and 142,, a h omp s n a pair of curtains which may independently be opened and closed, the upper tier l5 supporting the auxiliary curtain rod 39 upon which are slidably mounted the panels 4!] and 4| of the lower tier. Figure 3 shows the panels 16 and H of the upper tier, as well as the panels in, and 4| of the lower tier in closed condition, whereasFigures l and 5 show the said two tiers in different open conditions. And -Figure 6 illustrates the arrangement ,of the double-tier curtains of Figures l to 5 with an additional tier 59 added, said latter tier comprising panels 59 and 51 supported from the lower auxiliary curtain rod 53 which in turn is supported by the lower loops (53, 54, 55 and 56, Fig. 2') or said panels 5c and 5i, in the manner aforesaid.

It will also be observed that the curtain panels of the tiers at all levels are constructed in the same manner, so that they may be readily interchanged. And should it be desired to use a single-tier curtain of conventional construction, that can also be efiected since the supports 'for the auxiliary curtain rods are not visible, as aforesaid.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figure 9, the pair of curtain panels 5'! and 58 are substantially like the panels hereinabove described, except that instead of a single loop at each lateral edge of each panel, there are rows 59 and 6B of three loops each at the extreme opposite edges 61 and 62, respectively, of the said pair of curtains. The loops 6,3 in each of said rows are substantially like the loops '36 hereinabove described, and are adapted operatively to support an auxiliary curtain rod. Figure .9 shows the curtain rod 64 (no curtains thereon being shown) extending through and supported by the intermediate loops 83a. The arrangement is hence such that the said auxiliary curtain rod 64 may be selectively positioned along different levels, so that adjustments may readily be made of total curtain heights, in accordance with window heights.

Figure 10 shows still another modification of my invention in which a pair of curtain panels B5 and 68 have side herns 6] and 68, respectively.

provided with apertures (which may be of button-hole construction) .69 and 10 respectively. It is preferred that the lower :rufiies H and 12 which are attached to panels 65 and 66 be positioned below said apertures 59 and 1D. In the particular construction illustrated, the lines of hem stitching 13 and 74 are each separated in the region of apertures 69 and 10 to provide .unobstructed passageways at 1 5 and 16 through which the auxiliary curtain rod H can extend, opposite terminal'portions of said curtain rod extending through said apertures 59 and 1 0 whereby the ends 18 and 19 of the rod are disposed at the extreme lateral edges of the tier, as clearly illustrated in Figure 10. The said curtain rod 7,1 operatively supports, in the manner aforesaid, the lower tier curtain panels 8 0 and 8! whereby the latter may be slidaloly shifted along said rod, in the manner above described with respect to the form of my invention first referred to. Here it will be observed that the apertures 69 and 1,6 serve the function of the rod-supporting loops above-mentioned; and it is also understood that other forms of rod supports may be employed on an upper tier of curtains, in the manner aforesaid, to support a lower tier.

It'is thus apparent that-myinvention provides a simple multiple-tier curtain structure permi -ti s the em l ymen o a plurality o over: rn nstier u z e :use o ny w brac ets or similar attaching means for the tiers below the uppermost one, and permitting independent opening and closing adjustments of the curtain panels in each tier.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or manner of practicing same, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a multiple tiered curtain assembly having an upper tier comprising' a plurality of laterally separable panels and at least one lower tier comprising a plurality of laterally separable panels disposed below said upper tier, the upper tier having a curtain rod pocket at the upper portion thereof, a main curtain rod in said pocket and supporting said upper tier, separate curtain rod supporting means above and behind the lower portion of each of the panels of said upper tier for supporting an auxiliary curtain rod, and an auxiliary curtain rod removably supported in said supporting means and having said lower panels slidably supported thereon for lateral movement.

2. In a multiple tiered curtain assembly, the combination according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary curtain rod supporting means comprises apertured means having said auxiliary curtain rod slidably extending therethrough.

3. In a multiple tiered curtain assembly, the

combination according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary curtain rod supporting means comprises looped means having said auxiliary curtain rod slidably extending therethrough.

4. In a multiple tiered curtain assembly, the combination according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary curtain rod supporting means comprises a plurality of spaced looped members attached to a plurality of the upper curtain tier panels having said auxiliary curtain rod slidably extending therethrough.

5. In a multiple tiered curtain assembly, the combination according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary curtain rod supporting means comprises substantially vertical rows of a plurality of looped members attached to a plurality of the upper curtain tier panels, said auxiliary curtain rod slidably extending through correspondingly positioned looped members on said panels.

6. In a multiple tiered curtain assembly, the combination according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary curtain rod supporting means comprises substantially vertical rows of a plurality of looped members attached to lateral edges of a plurality of the upper curtain tier panels, said auxiliary curtain rod slidably extending through correspondingly positioned looped members on said panels.

'7. In a multiple tiered curtain assembly, the combination according to claim 1, the opposite end panels of said upper tier each having a lateral hemmed edge portion, said auxiliary curtain rod supporting means comprising looped members disposed on said hemmed edge portions, whereby said members are hidden from view by said portions.

8. In a multiple tiered curtain assembly, the combination according to claim 1, the opposite end panels of said upper tier each having a lateral hemmed edge portion, said auxiliary curtain rod supporting means comprising looped members disposed on said hemmed edge portions, whereby said members are hidden from view by said portions, said end panels each having attached to the bottom thereof a rufile member having a lateral edge portion embracing the hemmed edge portion, said looped members each comprising a loop and terminal ends, said ends being disposed between said lateral edge portions of the rufile member and the hemmed portion of the corresponding panel, said loops each being in a plane adjacent the plane of its corresponding panel.

ALAN HALPERN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,606,083 Klein Nov. 9, 1926 2,156,231 Stam Apr. 25, 1939 2,500,074 Hill Mar. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,398 Australia July 8, 1929 r of 1928 

